Clothesline hanger bracket



Aug. l5, 1950 .1. GROSSER cLoTHEsLINE HANGER BRACKET 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed March 3l, 1947 INVENTOR Aug- 15, 1950 J. GROSSER 2,518,774

CLOTHESLINE HANGER BRACKET Filed March 31. 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4| Qas,

' www@ Aug. l5, 1950 J. GROSSER cLoTHEsLIVNE HANGER BRACKET 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 31, 1947 Aug. l5, 1950 J. GROSSER 2,518,774

CLOTI-IIESLINEA HANGER BRACKET l Filed March 31, 1947 'v 4 Sheets-Sheet4 Patented Aug. 15,- 195() UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE CLOTHE SLINEHANGER John Grosser, Cleveland, -Ohio Application March 31, 1'947,vSerial No. 738,407

2 lClaims,

My'invention relates to Vbracket devices in general, but more inparticular to an extensible bracket device for supporting a clothesline.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an overhead supportsystem .for a clothesline.

Another object of my invention is to provide an extensible hanger armwhich may be contracted and stored within a convenient housing device,in order that the extensible hanger arm may be folded within the housingout of way when the clothesline is not in use.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an attractive andconvenient storage housing for an extensible bracket arm in order thatthe bracket arm may be concealed from view when not in use.

Yet another object of my invention is to remove the hazard ofpermanently depending clothesline support members by the provision of aretractable line support.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of my invention may be had byreferring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying?" drawing, in which: n

Figure 1 is the preferred embodiment of my invention having a swingableand extensible hanger member with a jointed brace to limit the swing,and having an enclosable housing mounting member;

Figure 2 is an alternate method of limiting the swing of the extensiblehanger arm which may be used in place of the folding brace of Figure l,or in addition thereto;

Figure 3 is a view taken along the line 3 3 of Figure 1;

Figure Ll is a view taken along the line 4 4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a view of the device of Figure 1 with the extensible memberretracted and folded within the housing member; l

Figure 6 is a bottom view of the Figure 5 illustrating the closure doorthereof, with a portion of the closure door broken away to illustratethe pivotal attachment of the hanger member to the housing;

Figure 'l is an illustration of a bridge member extending between two ofmy improved bracket devices for directly supporting the clothesline;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatieal end View of Figure 7 'illustrating theratchet rotatable positioning means to rotatably position the bridgemember relative to the bracket;

Figure 9 is an alternate construction ofV my invention employing afolding joint to retract the extendable member, and a block stop meansto'limit the pivotal swing thereof;

Figure 10 is an end View of the Figure 9 with theend -plate removed toreveal the interior of the housing;

Figure 11 is a bottom View of Figure 9 with the extendable member foldedup within the housing member;

, Figure 12 is an alternate construction of the housing and extendablemember to provide a closure plate on the extendable member for closingthe entryinto the housing member;

Figure 13 is an end view of the Figure l2; Figure 14 is a bottom view ofthe device of Figure l2, with the extendable member folded into thehousing, and the closure plate back of the extendable member closing theentry into the housing member; and y Figure l5 is a cross-sectional viewalong the line |5--I5 of Figure 12.

With reference to the Figure 1 of the drawing, I illustrate theembodiment of my invention which will probably be preferred by mosthouseholders. In this embodiment, the absolute essentials of myinvention have been enlarged upon and supplemented in order to make adevice of utmost usefulness. The Figure 1 includes a mounting member inthe form of a, housing bracket I9, a hanger member II which isextensible, and a pivot means I'I for pivotally attaching the extensiblehanger member II to the housing I0.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the Figure l, the extensiblehanger member II includes a swingable arm portion I2 and an extendablearm portion I3. In order to accommodate my improved device to variableheight of room in which the device will be used, and also in order toreduce the necessary size of the housing I0, I have provided a way tomake the hanger member extensible and retractable. As will be seen byreference to the Figure l, I have provided an elongated slot 23 in theextendable arm portion I3, and have provided a wing bolt 22 withthreadable engagement into the able arm portion I2 for locking theextendable 'portion I3 at any relative position with respect ing I0. 1 r

extensible hanger member II up into the hous- In this preferredembodiment, as in all embodiments of my invention, I desire to limit thepivotal swing of the extensible member II in order that the member IIwill be held to a substantially vertical position when pivoted foroperative use. In the embodiment of Figure 1, I have provided the meansto limit the pivotal swing of the extensible hanger member II by theprovision of a foldable brace including a pivoted brace member I4 and aninterconnecting brace member S5. The pivoted brace inember I4 ispivotally attached to the interior surface of the housing IIJ by meansof a pivot I8.. The interconnecting brace member I5 is pivotallyattached to the swingable arm portion I2 of the hanger member I I bymeans of a pivot 2Q. Also, the -pivoted brace member I4 and theinterconnecting brace member I5 are joined together by a leadedstiffening joint I9.

The construction of the joint I9 will be more readily understood byreference to the Figure 4. In the Figure 4, it will be seen that a leadwasher member 26 is positioned between the overlapping ends of themembers I4 and I5. The entire joint is then tightened together by meansof a bolt 29. Thus, the joint I9 can be made relatively stiff by keepingthe bolt 29 relatively tight. Therefore, when the brace members I4 andI5 are axially aligned as indicated by the solid line of Figure 1, theextensible member II will be held snugly in the vertical positionindicated. On the other hand, when the extensible member Il is retractedand pivoted about the pivot I1 to a position within thehousing I0 asindicated in the Figure 5 of the drawings, the joint I4 will hold thebrace members I4 and I5 in the position indicated in the Figure 5, andserve to retain the extensible member II within the housing- I5. As Weartakes place to allow the joint I9 to become loose, a slight tighteningof the bolt 2Q will renew the stifi retaining action thereof. Of course,the few times that the joint I9 is flexed will cause the wear to berelatively slow, and the lead washer 26 will last for many years beforeit needs to be replaced.

Also in the Figure l, I have illustrated a door member I6 which may beclosed over the entry into the housing II! in order to give a finishedappearance to the entire device. That is, in many recreation rooms andfinished basements or attics, my device may be installed in the ceilingthereof, and only the door member i6 and the face of the bracket id willappear in the room. This feature is very desirable in auxiliary roomswhich must serve both as a laundry drying room and for other1 purposes,such for example as recreational purposes. Of course, this feature isnot essential for ordinary use in utility rooms and many unfinishedbasements or attics. The housing I0 requires only the essential portionsthereof required ior mounting the housing between ceiling or floorjoists, and therefore is not an enclosed housing in the ordinary senseof the word. In the embodiment used for iinished rooms, a face ilangeand door i6 are applied for/the sake of appearance. Otherwise, thehousing member I Il is in reality only a channel-like member having abottom portion 46 and two end members 41 and 48. Thus, when the housingIIJ is mounted along a fioor joist, the bottom portion 46 may beattached to the joist by means of screws or other suitable means.However, when the housing I0 is to be mounted crosswise of the joist,the bracket is mounted by attaching the end members 41 and 48 tooppositely disposed floor joists.

In the Figure 9 of the drawing, I have illustrated an alternate type ofextensible hanger member. In this embodiment, a first arm 30 and asecond arm 3I are jointed together by means of a knee 2I. Thus, themember 3| folds back upon the member 30, and the entire unit is thenpivoted to the interior of the housing I0. In this embodiment, I havealso substituted a stop block 32 in place of the brace as illustrated inthe Figure 1, to limit the pivotal swing of the extensible member. Aswill be readily apparent, the pivoted end of the arm 30 will contact thestop block 32 and limit the pivotal swing of the arm 30. The swing ofthe arm 3I relative to the arm 30 is stopped at the desired position bythe knee construction including a knee stop 49 as illustrated. Thus, theedge of the member 3l will contact the knee stop 49 and will be unableto swing beyond the alignment position.

Also in this embodiment illustrated in Figure 9, I have provided a latchspring 36 in order to hold the folded extensible member within thehousing ill. The latch spring 36 will engage the pivoted end of the arm30 when the retracted extensible member is pivoted into the housing, andmay be released by a simple tug on the extensible member. The housing I0is illustrated with the door I6 in the Figure 9, as would be employed ina finished room for a pleasing appearance.

In the Figure l2 of the drawing,.the extensible member Il operates onsubstantially the same principle as the extensible member II of theFigure l, but in place of a slotted arrangement, I have provided achannel member 33 and an extensible arm 34 interfitting within thechannel member 33. A wing bolt 35 is threadably engaged with the channel33 and extends therethrough to frictionally engage the extensible arm34. Also, in the embodiment illustrated in the Figure 12, I haveprovided a wide face closure plate 31 on the extensible arm to produce aselfclosing effect in place of the door I6 of the embodiment discussedin Figures 1 and 9. Although I: the stop principle discussed inconnection with the Figure 9 is illustrated in the Figure l2, a bracedevice as shown in the Figure 1 could have been included. In eitherevent, the extensible hanger I I is positioned within the housing I0 byretracting the arm 34 within the channel 33, and the entire member ispivoted to position the closure plate 31 flush with the face of thehousing I0. Thus, as illustrated best in the Figure 14, the closureplate 31 ts within the entry to the housing I5 and substantially closesthis opening to give a pleasing closed appearance. The wing of the wingbolt 35 protrudes from this .surface and provides a convenient grippingmember to withdraw the extensible member from the housing I0. In

this embodiment, as previously stated, in place of the brace device, Ihave provided a spring latch 36 as discussed in connection with theFigure 9.

In the Figure 2 of the drawing, I have illustrated a still furthermethod of limiting the pivotal swing of the pivoted arm on theextensible member relative to the housing. This arrangement simplyprovides for the member I2 to swing down into contact with the end 41 ofthe housing. This provision may be used in place of stop block 32 ofFigures 9 and l2, or may be used in addition thereto, or in addition tothe brace device as illustrated in the Figure 1.

As thus far discussed, my invention has .been explained in the principalfunction of the extensible and retractable hanger member, and thevariations thereof. Also, the various types of pivotal limits anddevices for retaining the retracted hanger member within the housing I8have been discussed. I desire that it be understood that thesevariations have been set forth only by way of example, and it is to beunderstood that my invention resides principally in the basic concept ofthe provision of the swingable hanger member which may be extended andretracted, and thereafter folded within a suitable housing member out ofsight and out of way during the time when the hanger member is notemployed for supporting clothesline devices.

The remaining portion of my discussion will be directed to the practicaluse and adaptation of my invention. In each of the figures illustratingthe extensible member H, I have illustrated a hooked end 24 and aratchet pawl 25. In the Figure 7 of the drawings, I illustrate a pipe 38which may be used to extend between two of the hooks 24 of separatebracket devices. That is, in the use of my bracket device for supportinga clothesline, the clothes hanging area is determined, and one o-f myimproved bracket devices installed at each of the four corners of thearea. Therefore, there will be a hook member 24 available at each of thefour corners. However, it is not necessary to provide a ratchet pawl 25on each of the four members used, although in standard manufacturingprocedure if it is desired to install such a pawl it will not be in theway, but will simply remain unused in some of the devices. The pipe 38is provided with pin members 39 `which are used in the well-known mannerto engage the clothesline. That is a clothesline extends :between twosuch pipes 38 located along the ends of the rectangular drying area, andthe line is simply looped around the pins 39. The pipe 38 may then berotated relative to the hook 24 in order to wrap the rope about the pipe38 and tighten the clothesline.

In order to keep the pipe 38 from slipping oi the hook 24, I haveprovided spacing washers 43 and 44 which may be spaced to receive the a.

hook 24 therebetween, and are held stationary upon the pipe 38 by meansof set screws 42. At least on one of the pipes 38, and on one of thehooked members 24, the ratchet and pawl device illustrated in the Figure8, and the handle 45 illustrated in the Figure 7 must be provided inorder to rotate the pipe 38 and hold the pipe 38 in the rotated positiononce the clothesline has been tightened. The operation of the apparatus:

is believed to be very easily understood, and comprises a ratchet wheel40 held stationarily upon the pipe 38 by means of a set screw 4|.

, In the operation of my improved clothesline hanging device, the twopipe members 38 which are required at the ends of the clothes area maybe stored in a convenient place when the rack is not in use. Uponsetting up my improved clothesline supporting system, the bracketmembers at the four corners of the clothes drying area are opened andthe extensible member pivoted and positioned to extend the hook member24 to the desired height. Thereafter, one pipe member 38 is positionedbetween two of the hook members 24 at one end of the clothes dryingarea, and the other of the pipes 88 is extended between the members 24at the opposite end of the clothes drying area. The clothesline is thenlooped back and forth between the pins 39 of the two pipe Imembers 38.Thereafter, the handle member 45 is rotated to pull on each of the loopsabout the pins 39. Thus, the line is drawn tight quickly upon the pipe38. As will be readily understood, the pawl 25 will engage the ratchetwheel 48 and hold the pipe 38 rotatively positioned as desired to keepthe clothesline taut. It is a simple matter to reverse the abovedescribed function in order to store the :clothesline hanging deviceuntil further required.

Although I have described my invention in its preferred form with acertain degree of particularity, it is understood that the presentdisclosure 1, of the preferred form has :been made only .by way ofexample and that numerous changes in the details of construction and thecombination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A clothesline hanger bracket device, comprising an extensible hangermember and a mounting member, said mounting member including a housinghaving an entry opening therein, said extensible hanger member includinga first arm portion, a second arm portion, and joint meansinterconnecting said arm portions, pivotal mounting means adapted toswingably attach said first arm portion to the interior of said housing,one of said arm portions having a wide closure plate portion, saidextensible hanger member being pivotable on said pivotal mounting meansto a position Within said housing with the said closure plate portionsubstantially filling said housing entry.

2. Apparatus for supporting a clothesline to hang clothing, comprisingfour hanger bracket devices spaced at the corners of a rectangular area,each said bracket device including a housing having an entry openingtherein, and an extensible hanger member, said hanger member beingadapted to reside within said housing for storage, and being pivotal andextendable from said housing for clothing hanging use, each hangermember having an attachment member on the end thereof, and two crossmembers, each cross member being adapted to bridge between theattachment members of two of said hanger bracket vdevices along an endof said rectangular area,

and means to rotatably position said cross members relative to saidattachment members.

JOHN GROSSER.

REFERENCES CITED The following. references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

